Lamb’s moment
The Democrat ran a flawless race that inspired
When, in 1965, John V. Lindsay embarked upon his campaign to be elected mayor of New York City, the great political essayist and prose stylist Murray Kempton wrote: “He is fresh and everyone else is tired.”
New is always good in American politics (think of how the Barack Obama mystique only grew between 2004 and 2008) and Conor Lamb is new.
Even if Rick Saccone winds up winning because of provisional ballots or a recount, which at the moment seems unlikely, Mr. Lamb’s triumph is monumental. For to end the race in, essentially, a tie as a Democrat in a district that has long been reflexively Republican and which was carried by almost 20 points by Donald Trump, is in itself a significant political accomplishment. Though his district may go away, and whatever happens with redistricting it will likely not remain as it is, Mr. Lamb has a bright future in politics.
His freshness takes nothing away from the kind of campaign he ran in the 18th Congressional District, which was almost flawless. On the contrary, Mr. Lamb’s persona and his campaign machinery were in sync.
Mr. Lamb worked hard, was well organized, and emphasized retail over wholesale politics. He was a good listener and listened more than he orated. He was the superior fundraiser. And, most important, he localized the race rather than nationalizing it.
Mr. Lamb did not attack the president. He talked about the opioid epidemic (which is not primarily a federal issue) and infrastructure (which is). He connected, both personally and on issues. Congress will never settle the abortion question, or, likely, change the law on abortion. But falling bridges people can understand. Citizens can see that rebuilding American infrastructure is something that needs to happen and that the two parties can and should work together on.
Mr. Lamb’s opponent nationalized the race. And there were two problems with that. One is that our national politics is broken, and the voters are tired of it — tired of the acrimony and recrimination and tired of the lack of progress and cooperation. The other is that this is not a great moment for a candidate who is a Second Amendment absolutist.
It a moment for a candidate like Mr. Lamb — pragmatic, non-ideological, maybe even somewhat openminded.
His freshness will wear off of course, as newness wears off for every politician who is the newest thing. Politics is the only game more humbling than golf.
Mr. Lamb will have a hard time setting a truly independent course, and not voting for Nancy Pelosi, as he promised. He will be a freshman, and basically a lame duck, who depended heavily on national Democratic support and money to win.
Nevertheless he should enjoy his moment in the sun — an impressive start to what may well be a long career in public life. He, like Doug Jones in Alabama, shows Democrats the kind of candidates they need to win: Moderate, civilized and not zealous leftists, but practical and idealistic human beings who are willing to listen and want to serve.